History of Elizabeth Hillyard Thompson Raymond

Elizabeth's own story, and remembrances by Elaine Hillyard Hyer.

I was the daughter of Thomas Hillyard and Elizabeth Wool and wasborn 1 January 1838 in Doddington, Cambridgeshire, England andwas baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsby Elder John Wayman and was confirmed by Elder Thedrhilies Copeon 8 April 1850.

I immigrated with my mother and step-father, (my father having
died when I was only two years old), in the year 1853, leaving
Liverpool on 23 June with a company of 321 saints and crossing
the ocean on the ship Galconda. When midway we had a terrific
storm and all our topmasts came crashing down on the deck, and
had it not been that we were attending meeting at that time, some
of us must certainly been seriously injured, or possibly killed.
The next time that vessel tried to cross the ocean it sunk, so we
can see how the Lord protects His saints. We crossed the plains
with ox teams and were obliged to walk all the way as there were
six persons and their luggage to every wagon, it being the year
when the church fetched the people through for ten pounds of
English money. We arrived in Salt Lake City the latter part of
the following October, being almost a year on the way.

On the arriving in Salt Lake City all our means were gone and we
were among strangers, but we were very thankful to the Lord to
get a resting place and be with the Saints. We rented a house,
there being two rooms and three families of us. After a while,
myself with my mother and step father obtained work at the public
works, trimming beets for making molasses. We received our pay
at the tithing office and there were so many that sometimes we
had to wait nearly all day before we received our pay.

I assure you we did not have many luxuries in those days, but we
had good times for the people were all united.

I was sealed to Robert Thompson in the Endowment House in Salt
Lake City, July 16, 1857. I remember well the grasshopper war
and how we had to live on roots and bran, for there was no flour
in the country. It did appear that some of the people would
actually die from starvation but the Lord sustained us. I well
remember gleaning a handful or two of wheat in the lot and
grinding it through the coffee mill to make the first pancake and
how sweet it tasted. We got along nicely after that until
Johnson's Army came to kill Brigham Young and drive the people,
as they said. It was an exciting time; the men were called to go
into the canyon to keep the army back; the women were home alone.
Finally we had word from President Young to vacate the city and
leave just enough men to burn the city if necessary. My husband
was in the canyon when I was notified to pack up and be ready to
go in the morning, to where I knew not, nor did I know with whom
I was going. My first baby was just six weeks old then, but we
went and returned so the Lord delivered his people.

Shortly after ward we were among the first called to go settle
Dixie country. There were two families of us who were the first
to go and locate St. George. There were soon more down there.
We lived in camp all winter. In the spring the city lots were
surveyed and we moved to them. That spring my Lizzie was born,
being the first child born in St. George. Through hard work and
exposure my husband took sick. Brother Erastus Snow advised him
to come north, thinking he would regain his health, but instead
he died at my brother's house. I was left with three children
and not much to help myself with, as that mission had used up
nearly all of our means. We were there nearly two years. After
my husband died I went to live with my mother. About two months
after that my Loretta was born and I came nearly my life but by
the faithful nursing by one of the best of mothers that ever
lived, and the power of the Lord, my life was spared.

After some time I was married to Alonzo P. Raymond in
the Endowment House in Salt Lake City (May 1868). I had two children by him, one
son and one daughter. I have had six children, three sons and three daughters;
have buried one son and one daughter. I am left alone again for only my
children, and they are kind and good to me and are a great comfort and the Lord
has always raised up lots of kind friends to me. He has also blessed me with
sufficient means that I do not suffer for anything. And now my greatest desire
is to be able to do good while I shall be permitted to live and see my children
good honorable men and women and that we may each one be true and faithful to
the principles of the gospel.

THINGS THAT I CAN REMEMBER OF AUNT LIZZY THOMPSON RAYMOND

by Elaine Hillyard Hyer

She came to our home very often when I was a child for her home
was less than one block away. So along with my grandparents, she
was one of the first people I knew. We loved to have her come.
She was always kind and loving to us children. She was a busy
woman for she was always helping someone and never forgetting or
neglecting her church duties. The church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, the church she had joined when she was only 12
years old, was the dearest thing in life to her. She upheld the
leaders and was always ready to serve whenever or wherever she
was called. It was remembered by her family as well as many
others how she labored as a Relief Society teacher when living in
a home north of Smithfield--how she visited many of the other
homes in that part once a month. Her visits took her almost as
far north as the Carson home. This she made on foot and through
the fields with boots on in muddy weather. Each visit covered
several miles and she had told them she never missed one visit.
(This was related by Alma Raymond with great pride to Wayman
Hillyard one night when Wayman was visiting as Ward Teacher when
Alma was in his seventieth year.) She was always a Relief
Society member and worker, helping with the sick and to prepare
bodies and clothing for burial. Much of that work was needed in
early days, so she was called on often. You always found her at
their work meetings, or on cleaning days when the temple, the
church house or Relief Society house needed cleaning, she was
there also. She was a Counselor in the Relief Society to Sister
Rebecca Pitcher for a number of years.

She never neglected to be at Sacrament Meeting and on time. When
Grandpa was not home and Grandma not able to walk to church, she
called very often on her way home from the meeting and would tell
Grandma all that had gone on at church for she had a very good
memory.

She was left alone twice in her younger days, so had to raise her
family alone. So she and her family knew many hardships and she
had many lonely hours, yet she seldom went to others with her
troubles, yet I have seen her at times when her heart was full.
She was surely one who could be remembered as a true and faithful
pioneer.